CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION, LABOR DOULA AND POSTPARTUM CARE IN LOS ANGELES, CA
YOURDOULA Story
Jenny and her children: Max, Zoe and Nadine
In 1993, a very close friend of mine asked me to attend the birth of her second child. I was honored and felt privileged that she wanted me to share such a private and special event with her and her husband. I was elated, nervous, proud and excited all at the same time. I had three children of my own and my youngest was 8 months at the time.
My three babies were born "naturally" and because I had experienced birth firsthand, I felt I could make my friend's birth experience a positive one. For a woman, childbirth is one of life's most challenging processes. A woman's strength and determination will shine as she brings new life into this world. Having been through childbirth, I knew what she was going to go through and I was confident that I could walk her through the birthing process. I would be there to guide her, support her and provide her with confidence at a time when women can feel overwhelmed and vulnerable.
As her due date neared, Mary Beth and I discussed my role in the delivery room. Her main objective was to have a natural birth with little or no interventions at all. We worked out a basic birth plan which we presented to her midwife. We needed to be as prepared as possible. We were friends, but I needed to know more. How did she cope with stress? How did she deal with pain. Was she ever afraid, and if yes, what did she do to lessen her fear? When anger was the emotion of the moment, how did she alter her perspective and "calm down" Mary Beth's beautiful baby girl, Lee was born with me at her side, and our deep friendship was cemented forever. We share a special bond and often reminisce about that special night in March.
I became certified as a Labor and postpartum doula with alace in 2000, and have attended births both in New York City and Los Angeles. I am also certified as a childbirth educator (ICEA) and can teach childbirth classes at your home. I teach at Kaiser Permanente in Irvine and also at Innovative Baby, a store on Marina Del Rey (innovative_baby.com) I have attended births at different hospitals on the Westside, and in Los Angeles including: Cedars Sinai, UCLA Santa Monica, UCLA Westwood, Little Company of Mary, Kaiser Venice, Kaiser Woodland Hills and also Huntington Hospital.
